Multifunctional Tea Bag Holder/Stirrer

ABSTRACT

This invention provides an improved method of securing a tea bag within a body of liquid in a beverage container. The invention is a utensil which is characterized by a pinching/grasping area at one end in which to hold a tea bag, with a wedging area along the side closer to the other end in which to secure the string of a tea bag.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/673,735, filed Jul. 20, 2012.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to beverage accessories and inparticular to a method for securing specific objects within the beverageinto the user's desired arrangement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are plethoras of beverage accessories in existence that serve manypurposes in the way beverages are mixed, formed, and served. Morespecifically, solid components within a beverage may present a nuisanceto the user enjoying the drink. Some accessories are designed to alterflavor, temperature, or simply exist without purpose.

This invention was created in response to events experienced where looseobjects within drinks created issues prohibiting the drink's owner fromcomplete satisfaction.

Water is a fundamental component of any water based drink. The generalphysical properties of liquid water are well known within modern scienceand can show how water behaves in different circumstances. Morespecifically, water has a tendency to flow from a higher to lower level(depending on pressure states) through an object that promotestransportation through various methods such as osmosis, tubular flow,and others in order to create an equilibrium state, regardless ofwhether the liquid needs to traverse a higher terrain in order tofulfill this equilibrium. Also, it is known that water may havedifferent layers and depths as well as different specific properties.Therefore, objects with various compositions and densities that areplaced into beverages may act abnormally (based on the grounds offloatation, absorption, etc.).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention disclosed distinguishes a method for which tosecure floating or inadequately positioned objects (such as tea bags,fruit, etc.), whether intentionally or naturally and randomly placed, inthe desired location that the user of the invention so chooses. It alsomaintains the ability to stir the user's beverage.

The utensil defined is an object with the ability to secure in its hold,with a pinching/clenching opening, at the end of the stick, a tea bag,regardless of whether a thread and/or label is attached, held at anotherpoint on the stick in an indentation/insertion point. The stick iscapable of holding a tea bag without a thread, multiple tea bags, andtea bags of any shape. It is able to stick on a slice of fruit or anyother feasible ingredient, which will keep the ingredient at the bottomof the cup or wherever the user chooses and prevent it from floatingaround into inadequate areas. Specific models of the stick may havejagged edges for the ability to slice/cut. Specific modifications of thestick may have an opening at an end to hold decorations such as acocktail umbrella or items of that nature. The internal body area of thestick may be altered in such a way that allows for optimal preferences(such as space preservation, stirring capabilities, production materialand design efficiency, etc.).

The holder/stirrer is designed for convenience purposes. It eliminatesunnecessary contact with liquid or use of other utensils or fingers tofetch the tea bag or other attached items from the cup. The stick willprevent the string and label attached to the tea bag from falling intothe liquid, poured from a tea kettle into a cup, by securing the tea bagand its thread and label. The stick will allow the ability to wring outthe tea bag; draining out the liquid remnants within. Due to the naturalphysics of liquid flow, the stick will hold the end of the string andlabel at an elevated point in relation to the level of liquid,preventing the liquid from seeping up the string and dripping off theside of the cup.

The stick may be carved out of wood, composed of metal, molded plasticor biodegradable material, or any other feasible material, based on itspermanent use or disposable nature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 presents a side view of the holder/stirrer;

FIG. 2 depicts FIG. 1 with the holder capabilities put in use with a teabag;

FIG. 3 depicts an alternate form of the holder/stirrer in FIG. 1 inwhich there exists a jagged edge.

FIG. 4 depicts a top view thereof

FIG. 5 depicts a front view thereof, and

FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of FIG. 2 showing the design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring to FIG. 1, a general depiction in accordance with preferredembodiment of the holder/stirrer is labeled with the reference number10. The utensil 10 contains a region 11 on one end with the ability topinch/hold and/or pierce an object (typically to hold a tea bag orpierce through fruit and the like). A small indentation or cut out 12 onthe side of the holder/stirrer is used to wedge and grasp a string. Theregions defined by the number 13 are simply exemplified areas wherematerial could be cut out of the utensil to maximize costs andefficiently use material.

Referring to FIG. 2, an equivalent model of utensil 10 is shown whilebeing put in use to hold a tea bag 15, with its corresponding string 16in the wedging area 12, and an attached label 17 a decent distance awayfrom the tea bag. This configuration will allow the tea bag 15 to remainat the bottom of the beverage container with the labeled end 17 at asecure heightened distance away from the soggy bag, preventing liquidfrom seeping up the string 16 and potentially creating a nuisance bydripping out of the cup via the label 17. In addition, thisconfiguration secures the tea bag 15 and labeled end 17 such that ifwater is poured into the beverage container with the tea bag 15 placedbeforehand, the labeled end 17 is prevented from being pulled into thecup.

Referring to FIG. 3, an altered form of utensil 10 is used where ajagged edge 14 has been applied for potential slicing/cutting purposes.This potential allows for slicing of possible additions (such as fruits,etc.).

Referring to FIG. 6, it exemplifies FIG. 2 in a three dimensionalformat.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendepicted; due to the fact that various modifications can be applied tothe invention, the details and explanation above are not meant to limitthe capability, features, and function of the product.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A multifunctionalholder/stirrer for use with a tea bag, comprising: means for graspingthe tea bag at one end and another location along the edge to wedge apossible accompanying string and/or label of the tea bag, saidholder/stirrer possibly having extrusions within the body for purposesof material efficiency, as shown and described.
 2. A multifunctionalholder/stirrer arrangement of claim 1, wherein a portion of an edge isjagged.